Russians Start Removing Bodies From Sub

October 26, 2000|By New York Times

MOSCOW -- Divers entered the wreck of the Russian submarine Kursk on Wednesday for the first time and removed the bodies of three of the 118 crewmen entombed there in one of the nation's worst naval disasters.

The three bodies, placed in special containers, were lifted through a hole cut in the submarine's triple-layer hull and brought to the surface Wednesday, a spokesman for the navy's northern fleet command said.

Forecasts of worsening weather over the Barents Sea site of the wreck, off Russia's northwest coast, left the course of the recovery operation uncertain. But the chief of staff of the northern fleet, Admiral Mikhail Motsak, indicated that the navy was determined to continue.

"One thing can be definitely said: none of the compartments will be sealed or work in them wrapped up until they have been examined by our divers in detail," he told Russia's RTR state television network.

The bodies apparently were found in one or both of two compartments, numbers eight and nine, located farthest from the scene of two explosions that ripped open and sank the submarine on Aug. 12. As many as 10 sailors were stationed in those two compartments.

Information from the wreck site was sketchy Wednesday night, and it was not clear whether other bodies might remain in the two compartments.